Natick veteran who dedicated life to volunteering dies at 90

Monday

Mar 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Anamika Roy

Daily News StaffNATICK - When Ron Ordway Sr. was in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, he made himself a promise. If he got out alive, he would dedicate the rest of his life to volunteering.Not only did Ordway come home, he kept his word.Ordway, 90, died on Friday at MetroWest Medical Center in Natick surrounded by his family.For more than 30 years, Ordway and his family have organized a Thanksgiving dinner at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick.“It’s the only kind of Thanksgiving I can remember,” said his son, Jim Ordway, on Sunday.The Ordway family, which was already large, would expand by 100 more members every November, as people who were in need or just lonely during the holidays were welcomed.Jim Ordway remembered a time when he and his brothers suggested the family use paper plates for easy clean-up after the Thanksgiving feast.“He would say, 'No, I want everyone to feel like they’re sitting at home with us,'” Jim Ordway said.The annual dinner started small but slowly expanded. Some years the Ordway family served as many as 120 people at the dinner and delivered meals to 40 homes.The family plans to continue the Thanksgiving tradition.“It’s something we can never stop doing,” said Ordway, “He created something too big to stop.”The lifelong Natick resident was also deeply involved in the community, serving as a Town Meeting member for 33 years, and sitting on the Parks and Recreation Commission for 51 years. Ordway was also a member of the Council on Aging and many other town committees.“He dedicated his life to volunteering and helping others,” Jim Ordway said.Besides his wife, Ordway is survived by nine children, 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren as well as a large extended family.Anamika Roy can be reached at 508-626-3957 or aroy@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @anamikaroy.